Atlantic Council blogs

Ginsberg sees need for “European and Arab boots on the ground to back up” the rebels in Libya

By Marc Ginsberg, the Huffington Post

From Marc Ginsberg, the Huffington Post:  I have long argued that Gaddafi and his fate is a foolish strategic distraction for the U.S. and that we have no business risking American lives or treasure in Libya since the future of Gaddafi’s regime is largely a European and Arab world matter.

French diplomats: “France is losing the battle of soft power”

By Catherine Bremer, Reuters

From Catherine Bremer, Reuters:  A group of French diplomats complained on Thursday that budget cuts were hampering the country’s ability to conduct foreign policy and eroding its diplomatic influence in the world. The diplomats, some retired and others still working, criticised President Nicolas Sarkozy’s foreign affairs policy in an anonymous article in the daily Le […]

France announces gradual withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

By Reuters

From Reuters:  French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday he would follow the United States in starting a gradual troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, a move likely to boost him before a 2012 election campaign.

Obama may be sabotaging his own Afghanistan strategy

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  President Obama failed to offer a convincing military or strategic rationale for the troop withdrawals from Afghanistan that he announced Wednesday night.

Victory Is the Answer in Libya

By Joe Lieberman and Marco Rubio, the Wall Street Journal

From Joe Lieberman and Marco Rubio, the Wall Street Journal:  The deepening confrontation between the White House and Congress over Libya is both counterproductive and unnecessary.

Obama’s Plan Reignites German Withdrawal Debate

By Matthias Gebauer, Spiegel

From Matthias Gebauer, Spiegel:  Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière said it most clearly when he said the Germans feared the US withdrawal would trigger a domino effect.

Morocco Bets on Reform

By Peter Pham

At a time when, as the experts assembled at a symposium earlier this month hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Ansari Africa Center noted, the fate of both the “Arab Spring” in general and the North African revolutions in particular remain far from certain, Morocco has made an audacious bet with the new constitution that King […]

Update: NATO activities in Libya on June 22

By NATO

Latvia seeking NATO support over Mistral threat

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Latvia will ask NATO for support if Russia deploys French-built Mistral warships in the Baltic Sea because it would change the balance of forces in the region, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said on Wednesday. Russia and France signed last Friday a $1.7 billion (1.2 bln euro) contract on two French-built Mistral class […]

NATO to reset for the 21st century in Chicago

By Thomas Wright, the Chicago Tribune

From Thomas Wright, the Chicago Tribune:  President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that Chicago will host the NATO and G-8 summits in May 2012.